Notes: Evans taking advantage of opportunity

Adam Munsterteiger

09/12/2016

When Kyle Evans was placed on scholarship midway through preseason practices, head coach Mike MacIntyre said the muscular 5-foot-6 tailback would play “a lot of football” this season, both on offense and special teams. He wasn't lying, at least based off the Buffs' first two games.

Evans, from San Jose, Calif., scored a touchdown against Colorado State and again versus Idaho State. He has rushed for nearly 100 yards so far, ranking second on the team behind starter Phillip Lindsay.

Evans should be on cloud nine right now, but when asked to self-evaluate his play early on this season, he was humble.

“I am very critical of myself,” Evans said. “I just need to get better, whether it is reading a block or running through tackles. Every week is an opportunity to get better so that is what I try to do each week.”

Spoken like a former walk-on.

It is that hard working attitude that helped him achieve scholarship status. Some of Evans' teammates were surprised he wasn't already on scholarship because he worked just as hard as them in the weight room. The Buffs' coaches certainly noticed, too.

“They started to see all the work I was putting in on and off the field,” Evans said. “Luckily they gave me an opportunity and I am just trying to make the most of it.”

His father walked up to MacIntyre at the Buffaloes' Pearl Street Stampede event the night before the Colorado State game to thank him for placing his son on scholarship.

“I said, 'No, your son earned it. There wasn't anything given to him. He's a really good football player,'” MacIntyre said. “Kyle is a very good runner; he's very strong and powerful. Pound for pound he's extremely strong. He's also explosive and has good vision. He's kept working and working. I am glad he decided to walk-on here.”

Additional Monday notes -

*** Offensive center Alex Kelley and outside linebacker Derek McCartney both sat out the Idaho State game due to an ankle injury.

“They were both out here practicing today, full-go, so hopefully it doesn't swell up or anything this afternoon,” MacIntyre said. “But right now they looked good out there.”

*** Right tackle Sam Kronshage left last Saturday's game with a lower body injury. He was not back practicing on Monday, but did some “running, jogging around.”

“Hopefully he'll be back tomorrow,” MacIntyre said.

*** Nose tackle Josh Tupou has recorded six tackles, including one tackle for a loss, through the first two games of his senior campaign. But his impact has been greater than that stat line. His role of taking on multiple blockers often goes unnoticed.

Tupou returned to Boulder this summer, following his suspension, with a renewed sense of focus.

“His attitude has been phenomenal,” MacIntyre said of Tupou. “He has been exemplary in everything he has done: class, workouts, practice. It looks like he kind of grew up a little bit, like we all go through different stages. I would say he definitely learned being off for a year."

*** MacIntyre felt his team “came out really focused” on Monday morning as they lifted weights, then shifted focus to No. 4 Michigan during meetings and practice.

*** MacIntyre said he has crossed paths with Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh “quite often.”

“He was in Palo Alto when I was at San Jose State,” he said. “And then I know his brother John [Harbaugh] real well, too. My brother played for his dad Jack Harbaugh at Western Kentucky for four years. So I know the family pretty well.”